Parachute dropping kite



N0 13, 1951 H. BERTHENE PARACHUTE DROPPING KITE 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed May 9, 1950 INVENTOR. Haya erzene,

NOV- 13, 1951 l H. BRTHENE 2,575,157

v PARACHUTE'DROPPING KITE y Filed May 9, `195o v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I INVENTOR. Huy@ Bari/zaga@ Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED vSTATES Ain arlzNT oFFlcE Hugo Berthene, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 9, 1950, Serial No. 160,996

This invention relates to a kite and parachute dropping device therefor, and its principal object is to provide an improved device for this purpose which is conveniently and economically manufacturable, salable at low cost, of highly simplified provisions and operation, reliable, strong, durable, and efiicient.

Another object is to provide an improved device for said purpose which may be readily, rapidly, and conveniently installed on any usual completed kite, and without requiring any skill.

AV further object is to provide an improved device for said purpose which is free from any cornplications tending to become out of order, and which Willnot require for its operation any actuation by the user of the kite during its flight.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a usual kite, showingI it as equipped with a device constitutlng the. invention.

Fig. 2kis a top plan view,A in an enlarged scale, of the kite and device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view illustrating one of the parachutes of the invention, as it appears when opened up and in a descending condition.

Figs. 4 and 5 are a top plan view and rear elevational View, respectively, and in approximately full size scale, of a detail of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view, in approximately full size scale, of a balloon forming part of the invention.

Fig. '7 is an elevational and partially cross-sectional view of the balloon, taken on line l-'I of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 and 9 are a front elevational and top plan view, respectively, of a device which is a modification of the invention.

Fig. 10 is an elevation view, partly in cross-section, of another modification of the invention.

Fig. 11 is an elevational View of a detail of the modification shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view, in an enlarged scale, of the modification shown in Fig. 10.

The usual kite I, Fig. 1, includes a light plane 2, reinforced by a vertical longitudinal bar 3 and a :tiexed cross-bar 4. To the bar 3 is secured a tube 5 held thereto by cleats 6, each having arms I tensionally embracing the tube and prongs 8 xedly gripping the bar, as shown in Fig. 2. If desired, the tube 5 may be additionally fastened by tying together the hooked ends 9 with an elastic or plain cord III, as shown. The interior of tube 5 is separated by a partitioning wall II into subsidiary tubes I2. To the bar 3 is held 2 Claims. (Cl. 244-455) by a cord I3v a balloon I4, which may be inflated through an air inlet piper I5 thereof, but which is provided with an air leaking opening for gradual deflation, as will be hereinafter shown. A parachute I6, Figs. 1, 3, asv used with the invention, -comprises an umbrella-like top I'I from Vthe periphery yof which extend cords I8 tied together at their terminals jointly to a weight I9, which may be a sphere-as here shown or in formof a paratrooper.

In operation of the invention, the folded-up parachutes I6 are inserted upwardly into the tubes I2 in the position shown in Fig. 1, and then the balloon I4 is inserted downwardly into the tube 5 and inflated untilit bears firmly against both parachutes and therethrough against thev wall of the tube, thereby efficiently holding `and retaining the parachutes IBin place. The kite I may be then own in a usual manner, whereupon as the balloon I4 gradually becomes deflated it releases the parachutes I6, which then drop out, open up, and descend to earth, to the amusement and entertainment of the user of the kite and those watching the flight.

The balloon I4 includes an inflatable member 20, Figs. 6, 7, the mouth 2I of which is secured to a sleeve 22 that carries the pipe I5, and against the joint terminals of said pipe and sleeve, interiorly of the member 20, is located ar diaphragm 23. An elastic cord 24 is secured to the diaphragm 23, as shown, and extends therefrom through and outwardly of the pipe I5, to which it is secured by being wedged in a slit 25 thereof as shown. The diaphragm 23 is provided with a small opening 26 for the gradual deation of the member 20. When the air is blown into the pipe I5, acting as a mouthpiece, it displaces the diaphragm 23 from its seat and permits the shell 20 to be inated to the extent required for rmly holding in place the folded up parachutes I6, Fig. 1, and during the period, While the kite I is in flight, the air in shell 20 gradually leaks out therefrom through the perforation 26, causing the shell to deflate and release the parachutes 23 as above described.

The cross-bar 4 of the kite I is maintained in requisite flexed and bow-like condition shown in Fig. 2, by a cord 2lia having thereto tied at each end thereof a ferrule-like fitting 21, which slips over the terminal of the bar 4, in the manner illustrated in Figs. 4, 5.

According to the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 8, 9, there is provided a plate 28 to which is secured a plurality of tubes 29, each adapted to receive a folded parachute I6,

and to said plate are secured as shown balloons I4 for cooperation with said tubes. The plate 28 is provided with areas 30 of adhesive material, Wherewith the plate may be secured to and over the median area of the plane 2 of any kite, and the latter at once rendered ready to be operated for parachute dropping with the entire battery of tubes 29, in the above described manner.

In the modification shown in Figs. 10, 11, 12, there isjprovided foreach of the tubes 29 an auxiliary tube 3|, which is telescopically slidable downwardly into the former tube and held thereto by lateral projections 32 thereof resting upon the shoulder 33 of tube 29. The tube' 3| is retained against upward dislocation by an elastic cord 34 secured to the rim of tube 29 looplng over a lateral projection 35=thereof, as lshown in Fig. 12. 'I'o each tube 3| is tied a balloon I4, as shown in Fig. 11, whereby when the tubes 29 are thus equipped with the tubes 3l the latter m'ay'be all loaded with parachutes I3 held in place by their balloons 14, and the kite may be then lown for dropping the parachutes in the above described manner. The advantage of this modication'is that during the period when the kite is still in flight additional auxiliary tubes 3l may be loaded up with folded parachutes and inflated balloons, ready for quick insertion into the tubes l29 upon'return of the kite to its user.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A parachute dropping device for a kite having the combination of a plate, a plurality of tubes secured to said plate, a parachute in a folded condition within each of said tubes, an inflatable member in an inilated state located in each of said tubes between the parachute therein and its Wall maintaining the parachute in place, each of said members having an air leaking opening, and means to secure said plate to said kite with the said tubes in an upright state, whereby deation of said members through their said openings during ilight of the kite will release and drop al1 of said parachutes from said tubes.

2. A parachute dropping device for a kite having the combination of a tube, a parachute in a folded condition within said tube, an inflatable member in an inated state located within said tube between said parachute and the Wall of said tube maintaining'` the parachute in place, said member having an air leaking opening, means vto secure said tube to said kite in an upright HUGO BERTHENE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of -record le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENT in the Number Name Date 916,605 Rouse Mar. 30, 1909 919,436 Jackson Apr. 27, 1909 1,180,224 Ayling Apr. 18, 1916 1,274,207 Sordyka July 30, 1918 1,329,584 Martinis Feb. 3, 1920 1,387,403 I-Ioltvoigt Apr. 20, 1920 1,714,079 Copeman M ay 21, 1929 1,735,309 Albrecht Nov. 12,1929 1,816,814 Ater Aug. 4, 1931 2,444,642 Frieder July 6,1948 2,480,948 Moon Sept. 6, 1949 2,488,118 Cobb Nov. 1'5, 1949 2,492,800 Isom Dec. 27, 1949 2,507,777 Frey May '16,1950

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 532,369 Great Britain Sept. 2 6, 1,940 608,000

Great Britain Sept. 8, 1948 

